Belle Delphine, a popular adult content creator, revealed that she faced a $90,000 fine from PayPal after going viral for selling her used bathwater in 2019. Despite the viral success of her “GamerGirl” bathwater sales, Delphine claimed she actually lost money on the stunt due to PayPal’s actions. She shared a screenshot showing PayPal withdrawing over $90,000 from her account two years after the sales took place, and expressed frustration at the lack of warning or explanation from the company.
PayPal’s rules around sexually oriented goods and services only allow U.S.-based transactions for physical goods like videos, DVDs, and magazines. Delphine, who is based in the U.K., was uncertain about which term of service she had violated and whether it was related to the bathwater sales specifically. This incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of PayPal’s treatment of adult performers by civil rights groups, influencers, and sex workers who criticize the lack of due process and transparency in account actions taken by the company.
While Delphine was known for her sexually suggestive content at the time of the bathwater sales, she did not start appearing in pornographic content until 2021. She expressed frustration at PayPal’s lack of information about the terms she had breached and the reason behind the hefty fine imposed on her account. Delphine claimed that she was fined $2,500 for each sale, but this specific penalty is not mentioned in PayPal’s current acceptable use policy or user agreement.
Following backlash over its policy language suggesting fines for spreading misinformation, PayPal phased out the $2,500 penalty for policy violations. Delphine admitted that she initially kept the details of the fine secret because it would have been a more newsworthy story to claim she had made a significant profit from the bathwater sales. Despite the financial setback and lack of explanation from PayPal, she expressed gratitude for the humor and entertainment the viral moment brought to the internet community.
Overall, Belle Delphine’s experience with PayPal highlights the challenges faced by adult content creators who navigate the complexities of online payment platforms and their regulations around sexually suggestive content. The lack of transparency and communication from PayPal regarding account actions continues to be a point of contention for creators who rely on these platforms for their livelihood. Delphine’s story serves as a cautionary tale for others in the industry about the potential risks and consequences of engaging in nontraditional or adult content sales online.
